DANVILLE — More Vermilion County children will be able to get a jump-start on their education in the upcoming school year.

The Danville school district won a $2 million-plus Preschool for All grant from the Illinois State Board of Education, which will allow it to serve 550 preschool students in 16 classrooms throughout the county.

"We're thrilled," educational support programs director Diane Hampel said, adding the district got the full amount it requested and will be able to serve almost as many children as it did in the 2009-10 school year before the state made deep cuts to preschool funding the next year.

"There's a lot of need for preschool in our community and our county," Hampel continued. "We really want students to be reading by the end of kindergarten. ... Because of our relationship with the University of Illinois and the DELL-D program, we feel we have a quality program that focuses on literacy and gives students the opportunity to have all of the prerequisites so that they are ready for kindergarten and will be successful in school."

This year, the state will disburse $269.7 million for the Preschool for All Initiative, which aims to provide 3- and 4-year-olds, primarily those at risk, with a quality preschool education.

"This is the first time in 20 years that we asked school districts and other agencies to submit competitive bids," spokeswoman Mary Fergus said, adding the state education department received 554 applications.

It recommended awarding about $169 million to 458 programs outside of Chicago that will serve 52,595 children, and the rest to Chicago programs.

"It was a rigorous application and selection process," Fergus said. "They had their eye on funding those programs that really serve low-income families and students who are at risk of school failure."

The Urbana school district won a $1.2 million grant that will serve 280 preschool students, said Donald Owen, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. He said that's comparable with the amount the district received last year.

The Champaign school district won $975,000, said Lynn Peisker, the community relations coordinator. She didn't have figures for how many students could be served this coming year, but she said the program served about 300 students last year.

"We're thrilled with the outcome," Peisker said, adding the district's application was prepared by Amy Hayden, the Champaign Early Childhood Center principal. "This will enable us to continue providing a quality education to children with disabilities and students in the at risk category. It gets these kids off to a great start."

Hampel said the Danville district will be able to serve 220 more children than it did last year when it was forced to scale back programming because of the uncertainty of state funding.

Last year, it was able to run two classrooms at East Park Elementary School, thanks to the continuation of the federally funded DELL-D (Developing Language and Literacy in Danville) Project run by the University of Illinois' College of Education, and additional classrooms with other funding.

The DELL-D program provided intense training and support to preschool teachers to improve the reading readiness of children, particularly those from low-income families.

Hampel believes the state's new competitive application process shows its commitment to support preschool education, which still is voluntary.

The district will use the grant to pay for staffing, including two additional teachers, two teaching assistants, a full-time secretary and a family involvement liaison who will provide support to families. The grant also will cover professional development and supplies and materials.

Hampel said 320 spots will be available in nine classrooms at East Park and Southwest elementary schools in Danville. The rest will be in classrooms in Catlin, Westville, Georgetown, Oakwood, Rossville, Potomac and Hoopeston.

"Every county district will be served," Hampel said, adding students in other communities could attend a nearby program.

Hampel also said more spots will be available for younger pupils: "Last year, we knew we had to cut numbers, so we served mostly 4-year-olds."

Officials have compiled student lists from last year, Hampel said. But they hope to get more applicants through upcoming preschool screenings in August, and then later in the school year.

"It's a good opportunity for families who have concerns about their children being delayed or at risk to go through a screening and see if they might be eligible for services, and it's free," said Special Education Director Steve Runyon, who helps coordinate preschool services for children with special needs.

Hampel said the district is still waiting to hear whether it will receive a Birth to Three program funding, which would allow a home interventionist to work with families with at-risk children in that age range. That person meets with families bi-weekly, screens children for delays or other problems and holds play groups for children and families at the Danville Public Library.

Screening dates

The Danville school district will hold preschool screenings for Vermilion County 3- and 4-year-olds at the Village Mall, 2917 N. Vermilion St., Danville, on Aug. 4 and 11. Screenings also will be held later in the school year.

To make an appointment, call the CARE office at 444-3248. Leave your name and phone number, and someone will return your call.